10 Best Road Trips Near Vancouver

If you’re planning on short road trips from Vancouver, here are some amazing suggestions for you to brace yourself for an exciting road trip ahead. Vancouver provides an excellent starting point for the trip as it is close to many lakes, historic sites, scenic coastlines, and beautiful mountainous scenery. While you go off the city limits you may witness a mix of towns, a diversity of cultures, serene parks, rich agricultural areas, and mountain resort towns offering great views with numerous spots to stop by and explore the beautiful coastal and mountain surroundings.

Here are the 10 best road trips from Vancouver that you can enjoy

Traveling the Highway 7 route offers a splendid journey with numerous hiking and biking trails to explore and enjoy the peaceful scenery. This route is also ideal for fishing, golfing, and observing wildlife. With its rolling hillsides and winding rivers, Highway 7 is a prime destination for cyclists, motorcyclists, and RV enthusiasts seeking beautiful landscapes.

This route runs along the north bank of the Fraser River, filled with fun activities. For a quick recharge, roadside farm stands offer snacks to keep you going.

79.5 miles away from Vancouver

Whistler is a beautiful ski resort town, located just 90 minutes away in the north of Vancouver. The 120 km Sea to Sky Highway offers breathtakingly beautiful scenery, making the trip even more fun. You can visit many picturesque locations along this way such as Brandywine Falls, Furry Creek Beach, Shannon Falls, Porteau Cove Provincial Park, Shannon Falls, and many other surrounding locations.

Even if you’re not into skiing, this place has a lot more to offer such as you can go diving, exploring art galleries, taking museum tours, kayaking, hiking and fishing, and enjoying spa treatments.

75 miles from Vancouver

While planning on road trips from Vancouver, don’t forget to visit Mission which is located on the Eastern side of Vancouver, providing plenty of outdoor fun and activities for adventure seekers including hiking, mountain biking, fishing at the Fraser River, and observing wildlife. Take a tour of Cascade Falls Regional Park to witness the dazzling 30-meter cascade that empties into an emerald-colored pool and make sure to visit Sandy Beach for a relaxing experience!

42 miles from Vancouver

Located in the Fraser Valley is a small community that takes about 1-hour drive from the southeast of Vancouver. This beautiful region offers exciting hiking and biking pathways up in the neighboring Sumas Mountain and a stroll around Mill Lake Park. You may find numerous wineries for tasting and tours in this region.

Don’t forget to take up the fun rides and play arcade at Castle Fun Park while you can also shop for some antique items at Abbotsford Flea Market and spend some fun time at the Maan Farms for wine and strawberry selection.

11 miles from Vancouver

A kayaker’s paradise, Deep Cove offers serene waters for exploring the stunning views of the surrounding mountains. It is only 40 minutes away from the eastern side of Vancouver, providing a tranquil haven. You can extend your journey by stopping in Lynn Canyon Park which offers additional hiking paths and an amazing bridge that spans 50 meters above the canyon.

It is home to some cute little cafes and shops so you can munch on your favorite snacks while exploring the serenity.

 11 miles away from Vancouver

While going halfway between Whistler and Vancouver you may come across a Squamish community that has grown in popularity among adventure seekers, rock climbers, and hikers. The journey from sea to sky highway winds through a forested and mountainous landscape while providing breathtaking views of Howe Sound. Some fun activities that you can enjoy may include kayaking, kiteboarding, skiing, windsurfing, snowshoeing, and paddle boarding here.

40 miles from Vancouver

On the eastern side of Vancouver, around Fraser Valley, sits the charming lakeside hamlet of Harrison Hot Springs, making up the best road trips from Vancouver offering 2 routes either Highway 1 for a speedy journey or Highway 7 for a scenic ride through the rural terrain. You can enjoy a rejuvenating weekend while boating, swimming, hiking, fishing through the lake, and exploring art shops around.

81 miles from Vancouver

Situated on the northern side of Vancouver, this park is a mountainous wilderness that encompasses a vast area from Squamish, northward via Whistler. This park boasts over 90 km of hiking paths and also allows visitors to enjoy climbing, fishing, skiing, cycling, or paddling in an icy dip of glacier-fed lakes.

During summertime, this area is covered with beautiful white and pink heather flowers, making up a serene place to sit back and unwind.

40 miles from Vancouver

Bowen’s island is not that much in distance from Vancouver but seems worlds apart from the city because of its rocky beaches, hiking trails, and country roads that provide stunning scenic views of Howe Sound and make it look like another world of serenity. You can visit Snug Cove as well as it is just 20 minutes away from the bay in Vancouver, where you can relax in a nearby café while admiring the marina scenery, making it one of the best road trips in Vancouver.

18.5 miles from Vancouver

Fort Langley National is a historical site that dates back to 1858 when British Columbia was officially declared a British colony. Located in the southeast of Vancouver’s downtown, it was established in 1827 as a fur trading station by the renowned Hudson’s Bay Company. You can also try on the amazing food variety here at Fort Langley hamlet to charge yourself for further journey.

31 miles away from Vancouver